Long Weekends & Bridge Days 2026

A "bridge day" (German Brรผckentag, French pont, Italian ponte) is when a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday โ€” taking one day of leave gives you a four-day weekend. Plan your year smarter.

How to read this: ๐ŸŸข = automatic long weekend (no leave needed). ๐ŸŒ‰ = bridge day (1 day of leave creates 4 days off). ๐Ÿ† = "golden bridge" (1 day off, 5+ days free).

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Germany โ€” best opportunities

๐Ÿ† Golden Bridge

May 14 (Thu) โ€” Ascension

Take Friday May 15 off โ†’ 4 days free (Thuโ€“Sun). Combine with May 1 (Fri, automatic 3-day weekend) for a smart May.

๐ŸŒ‰ Bridge Day

Oct 3 (Sat) โ€” Unity Day

Falls on Saturday in 2026 โ€” unfortunately no bridge opportunity this year. Make up for it elsewhere.

๐Ÿ† Golden Bridge

Christmas + New Year

Dec 25 (Fri) and Dec 26 (Sat) plus Jan 1 (Fri 2027). Take Dec 28โ€“31 off โ†’ 10 days free for 4 days of leave.

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น Austria โ€” best opportunities

๐ŸŸข Automatic

Jan 6 (Tue) โ€” Epiphany

Take Monday Jan 5 off โ†’ 4 days free. Perfect for a winter ski trip.

๐Ÿ† Golden Bridge

May 14 (Thu) โ€” Ascension

Take Friday May 15 off โ†’ 4 days free. Salzburg, Wachau, or south to Slovenia.

๐ŸŒ‰ Bridge Day

Jun 4 (Thu) โ€” Corpus Christi

Take Friday Jun 5 off โ†’ 4 days free. Lake season opens.

๐ŸŸข Automatic

Oct 26 (Mon) โ€” National Day

Falls on Monday โ†’ 3 days free, no leave needed. Take Oct 27โ€“30 off โ†’ 9 days.

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italy โ€” best opportunities

๐ŸŸข Automatic

Jan 6 (Tue) โ€” Epifania

Classic ponte dell'Epifania. Take Monday Jan 5 off โ†’ 4 days free.

๐ŸŸข Automatic

Apr 25 (Sat) + May 1 (Fri)

Liberation Day on Saturday, Labour Day on Friday. Take Apr 27โ€“30 off โ†’ 10 consecutive days off in late April.

๐ŸŸข Automatic

Jun 2 (Tue) โ€” Republic Day

Take Monday Jun 1 off โ†’ 4 days free. Beach season opens.

๐ŸŸข Automatic

Aug 15 (Sat) โ€” Ferragosto

The whole country shuts down for two weeks around this date. Don't try to do business in Italy mid-August.

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France โ€” best opportunities

๐Ÿ† Golden Bridge

May 1 (Fri) + May 8 (Fri)

Two Fridays in a row are public holidays. Take May 4โ€“7 off โ†’ 10 days free for 4 days of leave.

๐Ÿ† Golden Bridge

May 14 (Thu) โ€” Ascension

Take Friday May 15 off โ†’ 4 days free. Or combine with the above for a glorious May.

๐ŸŒ‰ Bridge Day

Jul 14 (Tue) โ€” Bastille Day

Take Monday Jul 13 off โ†’ 4 days free.

๐ŸŸข Automatic

Nov 11 (Wed) โ€” Armistice

Mid-week break. Take Nov 9โ€“10 or 12โ€“13 off for a 5-day weekend.

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ Slovenia โ€” best opportunities

๐ŸŸข Automatic

Apr 27 (Mon) + May 1โ€“2 (Friโ€“Sat)

Day of Uprising on Monday, then Labour Day weekend. Take Apr 28โ€“30 off โ†’ 9 days free.

๐ŸŒ‰ Bridge Day

Jun 25 (Thu) โ€” Statehood Day

Take Friday Jun 26 off โ†’ 4 days free. Coast or Bohinj weather is excellent in late June.

๐Ÿ† Golden Bridge

Oct 31 (Sat) + Nov 1 (Sun)

Reformation Day and Day of Remembrance fall on the weekend โ€” but most schools and offices add the bridge. Check your employer.

Want destination ideas for these long weekends? See travel ideas around holidays.